Foods that Fight Inflammation  What does an anti-inflammatory diet do? Your immune system becomes activated when your body recognizes anything that is foreign-such as an invading microbe, plant pollen, or chemical. This often triggers a process called inflammation. Intermittent bouts of inflammation directed at truly threatening invaders protect your health.  However, sometimes inflammation persists, day in and … Continue reading “Healthy Aging & Longevity”

Staying Healthy When Away From Home   Check CDC’s webpage for your destination to see what vaccines or medicines you may need and what diseases or health risks are a concern at your destination.  Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a travel health specialist that takes place at least 4-6 weeks before you leave. They can help … Continue reading “Travel Smart”

Protect Yourself From the Dangers of Extreme Heat  For many people, warm weather is a time for fun-filled outdoor activities. However, hot weather and outdoor activities don’t always mix well, especially during periods of extreme heat— times when temperatures are substantially hotter and/or more humid than average for a location and date.  Extreme heat can cause people to suffer … Continue reading “Protect Yourself From the Dangers of Extreme Heat”

How the Brain Creates New Memories While Still Maintaining Old Ones  While sleep may feel like a time of rest, the body is actually engaged in a range of processes, including the creation of new memories. Research shows that the new memories we make are reactivated during sleep for several days after they are first created. So, how … Continue reading “How the Brain Creates New Memories”

The Benefits of Living Moment by Moment  Paying attention to what’s going on right this second can be hard. We often spend more time thinking about what’s coming up in the future. Or dwelling on things in the past we can’t change. We can miss out on experiencing the present.  It’s possible to train yourself to focus on the present moment. You become aware of what’s going on inside … Continue reading “Mindfulness For Your Health”

Breathe Better Indoors and Out  You can’t see most air pollution. You can’t smell much of it, either. But polluted air—both outdoors and indoors—can still affect your health.  “Nearly everyone on the planet is exposed to unhealthy air at least some of the time,” says Dr. Stavros Garantziotis, a lung doctor and researcher at NIH.  Breathing polluted air doesn’t just affect the lungs. … Continue reading “Protect Against Air Pollution”

Green Smoothie Ingredients: 2 cups packed baby spinach 1 cup unsweetened plain almond milk 1 small very ripe banana ½ cup frozen mango chunks ½ cup frozen pineapple chunks 1 tablespoon chia seeds Instructions: Combine spinach, almond milk, banana, frozen mango, frozen pineapple and chia seeds in a blender Process until smooth, about 1 minute … Continue reading “Green Smoothie”

What is Vitamin K and What Does It Do? Vitamin K is a nutrient that the body needs to stay healthy. It’s important for blood clotting and healthy bones and also has other functions in the body. If you are taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin), it’s very important to get about the … Continue reading “What is Vitamin K and What Does It Do?”

The World Inside Your Mouth How Microbes Affect Your Health There’s much more to your mouth than your teeth, gums, and tongue. Your mouth also contains billions of tiny critters that can only be seen with a microscope. These are called microbes. Together, all the microbes living in your mouth are known as the oral … Continue reading “The World Inside Your Mouth”

Do You Know Your Family Health History? It can help reduce your health risks, but asking relatives can be awkward. These tips can help. Some people inherit heirlooms, jewelry, furniture, clothing, and other items, from their relatives. But there’s something even more valuable we all inherit: our health. Finding out what medical conditions run in … Continue reading “Do You Know Your Family Health History?”